User Reviews

Overall Rating:

Value Rating:

Submitted by
Mohan Siribaddana
a AudioPhile

Date Reviewed: August 26, 2010

Bottom Line:

I have been using this XLR cables nearly 8 months. After few hours of using this cables in my system, I have found that it has taken my audio system into a new level. More specifically, more deep base and less whaling of my system. In other words, more natural and balance audio production.
I am happy that I have bought these cables which affordable and out performed many exotic cables. I congratulate Carl Barbeiri for making high quality and high end balanced cables (with Nutrick terminations) for audiophiles like us at an affordable price.

Carl takes a pride for making his cables meticulously and attention to detail. Anyone is interested in these cables, please do not hesitate on buying these lovely cables, you are assured of high end performance

I'm writing this review as a response to the previous very negative post about this cable. I read his review after I had ordered but before I received my cable so I was worried that I had wasted my money! Well, fear not because this cable is superb and is unbeatable value for money and you can buy it with complete confidence. I have owned Cardas Golden Reference before this at many times the price but I wouldn't go back to that after hearing this cable. Why waste money on super expensive cables? Believe me, you're far better off with high quality and fairly priced cables like Ultimate and your spare cash is much better spent on hardware upgrades.

I have a pretty good system consisting of McIntosh MC352 & C41 amps, Bryston BDA-1 Dac and Ambience Ribbon Grand Reference 1800 speakers. I was using an RCA Guerrilla Audio copper interconnect between the Bryston and the C41 and flabby boomy bass was a problem on some recordings. As soon as I hooked up the Ultimate XLR cable in its place the difference was immediate and obvious - no more flabby and boomy bass, just tight musical bass as it should be and plenty of it. The overall character of the music was better - more natural sounding! And this straight after hooking up the cable! It may even improve after an extended burn in period. Highly recommended!

I was surprised to see someone selling XLR cables of 1.5 meters in lenght for under 80$ and claiming that it was a high-end audio cable. So, I gave these "Ultimate Cables" a try. First, impression was the complete lack of bass: nothing under 60Hz. But, I'm a patient person and I gave it a 4 weeks and hundreds of hours of "breaking in" time. No change. Still no bass and low definition.

Clearly I was in front of a poor quality audio cable made of a grainy material. I decided to cut 16 inches to the cables to see how much it would improve and they did improve a lot: so, a truly grainy material. But still no bass... I could have asked for a refund, but I was so curious to know what kind of conductor was used to build these cables. And when I found it, it was so much surprising: an old 1990 stock of military grade cable made for high-frequencies (MIL-C-55021/2A THERMAX EC18U9-90STW) !!??? No wonder why there was no bass...

Anyway, this cable is made of 19 strands of silver plated copper and a silver plated copper shield. Very much different from what the seller claims (50% of 99.999% pure silver and 99.999% OFC).

Conclusion: don't waste you time and money with "Ultimate Cables", they simply don't know what they're doing.